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REMARKS BY: DONNA E. SHALALA, SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLACE: National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women, Washington, D.C. DATE: October 11, 2000
As we've just heard, a few years ago, "The National Advisory Council on Violence Against Women" realized that there were still gaps in the seamless system of protection and prevention that the Violence Against Women Act is helping us weave.
We understood that we still had more to do to create a system that truly follows a woman and her children from incident to safety.a system that leaves no gaps large enough for anyone to fall through.and a system that can help heal shattered bones, shattered lives and shattered dreams. So the Attorney General- one of our nation's most powerful advocates for battered women-and I charged the members of the Council.to go out to our communities and find out what works.what needs to be done.and what issues weren't being addressed.
Today, I'm happy to receive the results of your work: A report that is both a call to action to eliminate violence against women.and a community tool kit to enable us to reach that goal. I want to thank Diane Stewart, Vicki Coffey, Vincent Poppiti, and all of you for your work. I want to commend you for the valuable information you've provided. And I want to assure you that we'll be investigating how to incorporate your recommendations and strategies into federal efforts to stop violence against women and children.and to chart our future course.
I know that this report will certainly help us-and future administrations- develop a shared vision and strategies to end domestic violence. But we can't stop there.
Too many women are still having their bodies attacked and their spirits assaulted.and too many women are still having to endure the terror and tears in silence. I believe that there are five goals-five challenges for all of us here.and for all of those who will come after us-that must be met if we're to eradicate violence against women.
First, we must continue to build on what we have-our infrastructure of shelters and critical services such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline-which can be reached at 1-800-799- SAFE. When it comes to violence against women, statements of support are not enough-we must be ready with real support systems for women who want to leave their homes, and for those who want to stay.
Second, we must create a truly seamless system by enhancing our response to both rape and domestic violence. Through our actions, we must let it be known that all forms of violence against women- including rape-will no longer be thought of as just a "family matter"-it's a health matter; it's a criminal justice matter; it's a community matter-and it matters to our nation.
Third, we need to improve the quality of our data. We need to know more about the causes of violence against women and its impact on both women and their families. We need to improve our data collection, evaluation and sharing. And we need to improve our use of technology in data collection and evaluation- as well as in the fight against domestic violence.
Fourth, we need to improve communication and strengthen the relationships between federal agencies.across the public-private divide.and among all groups that are fighting to lift the shadow of domestic violence that can fall across any woman's life.
Fifth-and finally-when it comes to prevention and protection, we must ensure that domestic violence efforts are firmly rooted in our communities-where women live, work, worship and go to school. All community work must be guided by one goal: To ensure that wherever a battered woman goes-whether church or workplace or grocery store.whether court room or board room or treatment room.she's met with the same expertise and sensitivity that she would find in this conference room.
Now I realize that none of these goals can be achieved unless two things happen. First, we need the continued leadership and support of everyone here. You must infuse your energy into every place and network that battered women encounter. You must help ensure that no call for help ever goes unheard, unanswered or unnoticed. And-when it comes to violence against women-you must help raise the awareness and the consciousness-of our country.
The second thing that must happen is that we must reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act-and we must do it now. Otherwise, all of our past accomplishments.our current programs.and our future goals are in jeopardy. As we're all aware, this very Advisory Council was established to coordinate the efforts of the Violence Against Women Act-and the Act expired on September 30th. The House has already passed the bill-by an overwhelming majority. Today, it's being debated in the Senate. All who care about abused women and their families are waiting. Some 900,000 battered women are waiting. And our nation is waiting. If we truly want to protect battered women.if we truly want to promote a seamless system.and if we truly want to prove that our country is both good and great, then I have only one message: Reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act-and do it now. Too many women are simply dying for it.
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